There are some destinations that instantly feel cinematic — and Positano is one of them. From its pastel cliffside buildings to the deep blue water below, this Amalfi Coast town was the perfect way to begin our Italian journey.

This was our first stop in Italy, and looking back, it was everything we hoped it would be: romantic, indulgent, lively, and unforgettable.

✈️ Getting There: New York to Naples

We started our trip flying direct from New York (JFK) to Naples (NAP) on Delta, which made getting to southern Italy incredibly easy. The overnight flight is around 8.5–9 hours, and landing directly in Naples saves significant travel time compared to connecting through Rome.

(Later, I’ll be sharing a separate post about the Delta One Lounge at JFK — you can read that here → [Delta One Lounge Review – JFK])

After landing in Naples, we coordinated private car service directly through our hotel. The drive along the coast is winding, scenic, and much more enjoyable when someone else is behind the wheel.

🏨 Where We Stayed in Positano

We stayed at Hotel Savoia Positano, which we felt was in a fantastic location — close enough to everything, but still peaceful after long days of exploring.

👉 Hotel link:
https://www.savoiapositano.it/

We dropped our bags at the hotel, changed into our swimsuits, and immediately headed toward the water — because when you arrive in Positano, there’s no time to waste.

🌊 First Afternoon: Beach Club Bliss

For our first afternoon, we booked a beach club at La Scogliera Positano, which you can reserve directly through their website.

👉 Beach club booking:
La Scogliera Positano Website

We had our own private section built into the cliff, which felt like the most romantic possible way to start the trip. With cabana seating, you also get a table overlooking the iconic Positano view — the one you see in all the photos.

Being in Italy, we obviously ordered:

• Fresh pasta
• Prosciutto paired with the sweetest, freshest melon

Everything was absolutely incredible.

After lunch we leaned fully into vacation mode and took a much-needed nap in the sun, which felt like the most luxurious reset after travel.

🍝 First Night Dinner: La Tagliata

After heading back to the hotel to get ready, we booked dinner at La Tagliata — a spot that ended up being one of the most fun experiences of the trip.

This restaurant is known for its hands-on cooking classes, which we really wanted to try, but they were completely booked (a testament to how popular it is). If you’re interested, definitely look into this ahead of time.

Even without the class, we knew we wanted the views and food, so we booked dinner.

La Tagliata offers a complimentary shuttle for guests with reservations, often grouping diners with the same reservation time. The drive up is winding, but our driver was clearly a pro.

During dinner:

• Live music
• Instruments being played
• Singing and celebration throughout the meal

The combination of food, wine, and entertainment made it an unforgettable first night in Italy.

Day Trip to Capri

The next day, we took a ferry to Capri.

At the bottom of Positano is a small port with ferries that connect to nearby islands and towns.

👉 Ferry information:
https://www.positanoferries.com/

We chose Capri — and if we were to redo this trip, we would absolutely spend at least one night there. It ended up being our favorite stop.

👉 If you want to know more about Capri and what we did there, read the full post here → [Capri Travel Guide]

The ferry ride itself wasn’t bad, but in the past we’ve experienced rougher conditions where crews handed out sickness bags. If you’re prone to motion sickness, I highly recommend bringing seasickness wristbands — I always pack these.

👉 Seasickness bands I use: seasickness wristbands

⚠️ Important tip: Ferries run on set schedules, so be very mindful of the last ferry back to Positano if you’re not staying overnight elsewhere.

Dinner Back in Positano

After returning from Capri and freshening up, we had dinner at our hotel’s restaurant, and I cannot emphasize this enough:

👉 If you are going to Positano, you NEED to eat here.

Ristorante Da Iello at Hotel Savoia served some of the best pasta we’ve ever had — so good that Jeff and I still talk about it.

👉 Restaurant link:
https://www.savoiapositano.it/en/ristorante-daiello/

Nightlife: Music on the Rocks

After dinner, we headed to Music on the Rocks.

Pro tip:
👉 Do not show up before 11:00 PM.

While waiting, we grabbed drinks upstairs at a bar with a DJ and great energy. Once it was time, we headed down to Music on the Rocks — which is exactly what it sounds like:

Music. In. A. Cave.

Exploring Positano & Final Dinner

The following day, we spent time wandering through Positano’s winding alleyways, shopping, exploring, and soaking in the views.

That night, we had dinner at the famous Chez Black, where we shared:

• Pizza (chef’s kiss)
• Two pasta dishes

A classic, lively way to close out our time in town.

🚗 Leaving Positano

The next morning, we used the hotel’s car service to return to Naples, where we continued on to our next destination: Lake Como.

👉 Want to know more about Lake Como? Read the full guide here → [Lake Como Travel Guide]

✨ Final Thoughts on Positano

Positano is romantic, energetic, indulgent, and absolutely worth the hype. It’s the kind of place that makes you slow down, savor every meal, and appreciate the beauty of simply being somewhere special.

If this is your first stop in Italy — it’s a perfect one.

What to pack to Positano – Check out this to learn more: What to pack for Positano?